Prove It

Do or Die, Book 1

By: Stephanie Hoyt

Narrated by: Michael Casale

Despite being unanimously projected to go first overall in the upcoming NHL Draft, Noah Anderson wants nothing more than to get the Draft over with so he can escape his dad's unrelenting criticism and establish himself outside the rivalry he's never tried to fuel.

Alex Valencia can handle getting picked second after a guy touted as the next Gretzky—but he can't wrap his head around the fact that Noah is the one friend he can't make.

When the draft lottery all but guarantees they'll play for rival teams, Alex accidentally walks them right into a loser-buys-dinner competition, ensuring their relationship remains a point of interest long after the season begins.

Opposites in so many ways, neither Alex nor Noah expect a relationship built on the begrudging acceptance of a challenge made on live television to become so deeply important to them. But as the line between chirping and flirting blurs, they both must decide how much they're willing to sacrifice to play in the NHL.

©2024 Stephanie Hoyt (P)2025 Tantor Media

Needed More At The End

This story is good, but it’s very slow. Yes, the relationship is slow burn, to the point they don’t get together until the last chapter, but it’s more than that. There are a lot of moments that feel like repetition and a good chunk of the story is with the MCs interacting with characters other than each other. Spoiler at end ties into this.

In my opinion, if you can make it to the halfway mark, the story picks up and gets much better. However, if you’re like me and want to see the characters in a relationship for a bit, you won’t be satisfied as this ends the morning after they decide to get together.

I don’t know if there will be another book with these characters and maybe that’s why it ended that way, but it does leave you hanging in that you never do get to the good part of them being in love. (The author’s website says Nate’s book is next.) There is now a bonus epilogue on the author’s website, so be sure to check it out.

This is the first book I’ve listened to narrated by Michael Casale. He does a good job and I look forward to hearing more from him.

[Spoiler: If you feel like a kiss not between the MCs can be considered cheating once you know they’re both into each other, then you won’t like one scene in the book.]

Loved the book and so happy it’s here!

I love Stephanie Hoyt’s books and am so glad they’re starting to be on Audible. Everything was as good as I can remember from reading.